Fancy more legroom and other perks on your next flight? So listen.
An airline passenger has revealed how he landed an exit row seat, a bag of first-class goodies and assorted in-flight goodies after employing a controversial travel hack on a 12.5-hour flight from New York to Abu Dhabi.
Jeremy Maclellan, 26, a former car salesman from Massachusetts, decided to try a tactic highlighted by Air Steward and TikTokker @flyingrealtor earlier this year, and his video detailing the positive impact it had on his ride struck a chord with fans. followers.
The trick is to give Starbucks cards to cabin crew and show some “kindness.” To Jeremy’s surprise, when he tried the trick it worked in his favor and details the chain of events in a full three minutes. Tik Tok clip, which has since been viewed more than 2.6 million times.
Jeremy Maclellan, 26, a former car salesman from Massachusetts, tried out a controversial travel “hack” featured by air steward and TikTokker @flyingrealtor earlier this year.
The trick is to give Starbucks cards to cabin crew and show some “kindness.” To Jeremy’s surprise, when he tried the tactic it worked in his favor.
In the video, posted to his @x_travels account, Jeremy says he was dreading his long-haul coach trip and had found a business class seat, but the price was around $12,000.
He continues: ‘I didn’t want to pay that. So I went and got eight $15 Starbucks gift cards (which came in) for $130… I don’t know, somewhere around.
Then, when he got on the plane, he asked how many flight attendants there were and was told there were 12.
Aware that he was short on gift cards, he went ahead and gave them to the cabin crew anyway.
When asked if he was a cabin crew member for another airline, he said he replied something to the effect of: ‘No, I just thought I’d show the love, spread the appreciation. You know, it’s a long flight and I appreciate you guys.
He then went to find his seat at ‘the back of the plane’ and said he was upset to discover that a woman had stolen his window seat which he had taken pains to select in advance.
“She was already planted in my seat, without shoes or socks,” he exclaims as he tells the story.
After telling the woman that she was in her seat, Jeremey said that she moved to the side, but that he was upset by the fact that she left her shoes in place.
However, he was quickly saved from his nightmare seatmate situation when a flight supervisor holding one of his Starbucks gift cards approached and asked if he wanted to move to a completely empty exit row.
The TikToker told DailyMail.com he was able to sleep better ‘having the entire exit row to myself and being able to stretch out’
After watching Jeremey’s video, many viewers said they had similar success with the Starbucks flying stunt.
She told him: ‘We really appreciate what you did. That was very nice.
Jeremy concludes that his trick was totally worth spending $130.
He tells viewers, “It wasn’t business class, I didn’t get a fully reclined flat seat, but I think it was worth the gift cards to have a full row for myself.”
“And they were so nice to me the whole flight, like I took a nap for a bit and when I woke up there was a little goodie bag…like a lunch packed by mom…with a bottle of water, a sandwich and some sandwiches. They were very kind to me.
The TikToker also told DailyMail.com that he was able to sleep better “having the entire exit row to myself and being able to stretch out.”
Another bonus was that you got an upgraded pair of headphones and a ‘just like you’d get in first class’ toiletries bag containing a toothbrush, toothpaste and hand lotion.
After watching Jeremey’s video, many viewers said they witnessed similar success with the Starbucks flying stunt.
One commenter wrote: ‘I did this and got upgraded to first class from Heathrow to Canada. 10/10 would recommend.’
And another revealed: ‘I did that on a two-hour Southwest flight. $5 gift cards and everyone separately approached me thanking me and gave me free drinks.
Some viewers who work as flight attendants have also highlighted how kindness can go a long way. One wrote: ‘Stewardess here…if you just say hi when I greet you (you wouldn’t believe how often we get ignored) I’ll give you all the stuff, honestly.’
Coming full circle, @flyingrealtor, who inspired Jeremy’s hack, created a portion of his video.
“Thanks to this guy for trusting me,” said the creator. I know what I’m talking about.
Jeremy told DailyMail.com that he did not want to reveal the name of the airline because he “doesn’t want to risk getting anyone in trouble.”
